Hi Guys, let's go back down "Memory Lane" today with one of my favorite couples and favorite ladies...Beka & Jesse...I adore Beka..she's such a beautiful lady, inside and out...xoxo

Meet the beautiful Beka and handsome Jesse....TBC's featured couple today....I remember speaking with Beka about her wedding when she was in the planning stages and she was so excited sharing her wedding story with me.....I knew it would be beautiful...and when I saw the images it was truly beautiful and so much more....totally "picture perfect"....and with Beka's company, Innove Events as the planner (oh yes, she was her own client) and Marie Labbancz capturing their special day (I love Marie...her work is so STUNNING).....well, I knew it would be magic.

Beka & Jesse's wedding story will be featured in three parts today...there are so many gorgeous images and I want to share them all with you....and Beka is also sharing their wedding story with us....it's a lovely story...filled with lots of great detail and inspiration....let's begin with Part I....Enjoy!

Our wedding was a labor of love from beginning all the way until the end.I am the owner of Innove Events and Paper in Philadelphia and my life is planning weddings and events however, working on my own wedding was an interesting challenge. I had to be my own client, and let me tell you, I am a pretty tough client. My fiancé’s parents offered to have the wedding at the Governor’s Residence, which is there home while Jesse’s father is in office, and I knew it would be the perfect location for a backyard wedding.The setting is gorgeous, with a beautiful rose garden for the ceremony, a wonderful wooded area for cocktails and large backyard with a view of the Susquehanna River for a tent.The planning took just about a year and when the day finally came, I was truly pleased with the results.

September 13, 2008 was my 27th birthday and also the day of my wedding to my wonderful husband, Jesse Rendell.We met in 2000 when he was on tour with his band in my hometown of Florida and were introduced by a mutual friend.We hit it off right away.He won me over with his witty banter, confidence, and it didn’t hurt that he was great looking too!He was only in town for a week but we took every opportunity we had to hang out and once he went back to Philadelphia we talked for hours on the phone, running up large cell phone bills!After about 6 months of long distance dating I moved to New York for school and at this point we were seeing a lot more of each other.About 4 years ago I took the leap and moved to Philadelphia and in 2007 Jesse proposed.Even though we had been together for 7 years I had no idea it was coming!He proposed Labor Day weekend during an evening picnic, which I had been bugging him to take me on.We were in Ocean City, NJ, where his family has a beach house and where we spend a lot of time during the summer.The beach dinner was going great until a swarm of mosquitoes took over our picnic and Jesse had to hurry to get the speech out while covered in a layer of bugs.I gladly and quickly accepted and once we got off the beach where we were able to really celebrate.

Shopping for the dress was the easy part.As soon as I saw the Monique Lhuillier gown in an editorial spread I knew that it was the dress I wanted.I loved the softness of the layers of silk tulle with the combination of the sweetheart neckline; it was the perfect dress for me.Next came the shoes.I searched for the perfect shoes to go with the perfect and dress and when I found the fun, feathery Christian Louboutins in champagne, the outfit was complete.The bridesmaids wore a vintage inspired cocktail dress in a natural hue with delicate tulle and beading embellishments along the waistline.And Jesse wore a black Armani tuxedo with a traditional bow tie.

The plan for the wedding was to get married outside but as we all know, Mother Nature does not always cooperate.Luckily we had a beautiful back up plan and the wedding ceremony took place inside the residence with 190 guests in attendance.We really wanted our ceremony to reflect who we are, so we had a family friend and pastor from Florida officiate the ceremony and talk about our lives and beliefs. After the short ceremony guests mingled and toured the residence and the weather made a turn for the best and guests were also able to enjoy the outdoor gardens.The cocktail hour was full of specialty cocktails and fun fare.Jesse and I love simple food so we served some of our favorites, sliders with fries, mini cheese steaks and BLTs.As the guests made their way through the house to the tent the wedding cake served as a centerpiece to the entrance of the tent.We placed love letters that were written between my grandparents under the glass where the cake was displayed so guests could read them as they filtered into the reception.My grandmother passed away just two years ago and I wanted to honor her at the wedding and I thought there was no better way then to celebrate the love they had for 65 years.

I had been at the residence all week overseeing and helping with the setup and on the Friday before the wedding I told myself that I wanted to be surprised by the outcome and didn’t walk into the tent until we were announced into our reception as husband and wife. The outcome was better then I had ever imagined!I had a vision for the wedding of soft hues with vintage inspirations in combination with antiques and heirlooms from our family.The tables were filled with beautiful pink and peach garden roses arranged in a variety of antique containers and shabby chic candelabras overflowing with white and green hydrangea. The blue silk dupioni runners were a perfect canvas for the clusters of candles and flowers placed perfectly down the long tables. It was a wedding planners dream come true.The tent was draped in a soft blue and flowering chandeliers hung from the ceiling.The hand written place cards at each seat were ornamented with a single gardenia in honor of my mother’s mother who was in attendance.The dance floor was hand painted by a local Philadelphia artist and added an extra vintage touch to the tent and the amber lighting in the tent created the mood for a wonderful outside dinner party.

From the very beginning, Jesse and I wanted the meal to be family style and serve our favorites along with a few family recipes.The meal started off with a delectable salad of local heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella.We loved the idea of using local products and we were able to have all local vegetables and local beef for our main dish.The entrée of filet mignon was served just as it would be in a fine steakhouse with nothing else on the plate besides a garnish of onion rings that were a recipe of Jesse’s mother. The sides of brussels sprouts, potato wedges, creamed spinach and Aunt Chris’ macaroni and cheese were brought around to each table for guests to pass along.To follow up the meal mini banana splits and mini root beer floats were butlered to the guests and our wedding cake of chocolate and peanut butter cream was served to each table.

The band kept our guests dancing until the very end and then a small after party set up in the rose garden was the perfect ending to an unbelievable day.Small boxes of Swedish dreams, a cookie that has been in the Rendell family for years, were placed out for guests to take home, with the tag reading “Sweet Dreams” on each box.

After a years worth of planning Jesse and I were off to Calistoga, California for a week of relaxation, food and great wine!

Marie...thank you SO much for sharing the beautiful images with us today....and thanks to Beka for stopping by and sharing all the sweet details...we wish you and Jesse a lifetime filled with happiness and love!!